v. 66. Eyeing us as a lion on his watch.] A guisa di Leon quando si posa. A line taken by Tasso, G. L. c. x. st. 56. v. 76. Sordello.] The history of Sordello’s life is wrapt in the obscurity of romance. That he distinguished himself by his skill in Provencal poetry is certain. It is probable that he was born towards the end of the twelfth, and died about the middle of the succeeding century. Tiraboschi has taken much pains to sift all the notices he could collect relating to him. Honourable mention of his name is made by our Poet in the Treatise de Vulg. Eloq. 1. i. c. 15. v. 76. Thou inn of grief.] Thou most beauteous inn Why should hard-favour’d grief be lodg’d in thee? Shakespeare, Richard II a. 5. s. 1. v. 89. Justinian’s hand.] “What avails it that Justinian delivered thee from the Goths, and reformed thy laws, if thou art no longer under the control of his successors in the empire?” v. 94. That which God commands.] He alludes to the precept- “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s.” v. 98. O German Albert!] The Emperor Albert I. succeeded Adolphus in 1298, and was murdered in 1308. See Par Canto XIX 114 v. 103. Thy successor.] The successor of Albert was Henry of Luxembourg, by whose interposition in the affairs of Italy our Poet hoped to have been reinstated in his native city. v. 101. Thy sire.] The Emperor Rodolph, too intent on increasing his power in Germany to give much of his thoughts to Italy, “the garden of the empire.” v. 107. Capulets and Montagues.] Our ears are so familiarized to the names of these rival families in the language of Shakespeare, that I have used them instead of the “Montecchi” and “Cappelletti.” v. 108. Philippeschi and Monaldi.] Two other rival families in Orvieto. v. 113. What safety, Santafiore can supply.] A place between Pisa and Sienna. What he alludes to is so doubtful, that it is not certain whether we should not read “come si cura”—” How Santafiore is governed.” Perhaps the event related in the note to v. 58, Canto XI. may be pointed at. v. 127. Marcellus.] Un Marcel diventa Ogni villan che parteggiando viene. Repeated by Alamanni in his Coltivazione, 1. i. v. 51. I sick wretch.] Imitated by the Cardinal de Polignac in his Anti-Lucretius, 1. i. 1052. Ceu lectum peragrat membris languentibus aeger In latus alterne faevum dextrumque recumbens Nec javat: inde oculos tollit resupinus in altum: Nusquam inventa quies; semper quaesita: quod illi Primum in deliciis fuerat, mox torquet et angit: Nec morburm sanat, nec fallit taedia morbi. CANTO VII v. 14. Where one of mean estate might clasp his lord.] Ariosto Orl. F. c. xxiv. st. 19 E l’abbracciaro, ove il maggior s’abbraccia Col capo nudo e col ginocchio chino. v. 31. The three holy virtues.] Faith, Hope and Charity. v. 32. The red.] Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance.